Segmented support body

ABSTRACT

A segmented support body ( 1 ), in particular a table leg, comprising an outer segment ( 2 ), an intermediate segment ( 3 ) positioned within the outer segment and an inner segment ( 4 ) positioned within the intermediate segment, which segments ( 2, 3, 4 ) are slidable relative to each other, wherein the support body ( 1 ) has an actuator ( 18 ) and a displacement member ( 19 ) connected thereto within the inner segment ( 4 ) wherein the displacement member ( 19 ) is operatively coupled to the actuator ( 18 ) and the intermediate segment ( 3 ), which actuator ( 18 ) is adapted for displacement relative to the displacement member ( 19 ), and wherein the actuator ( 18 ) is at least operatively coupled to the outer segment ( 2 ), such that upon displacement of the actuator ( 18 ) relative to the displacement member ( 19 ) the outer segment ( 2 ) is displaced relative to the intermediate segment ( 3 ).

The present invention relates to a segmented support body according to the preamble of claim 1. The support body according to the invention is particularly suitable as a leg of a height-adjustable desk.

A segmented support body is known in the art. These are used in particular in height-adjustable desks, but the invention is also suitable for other applications such as tables, operating tables, workplaces in workshops and the like.

Such a support body can be adjusted in height in various ways, such as by means of a manual lever or an electric motor and chains that drive, for example, a worm wheel. The stability of the known supporting bodies is often insufficient in the extended position to provide a pleasant working place. The position of the motor is also often an obstacle to the maximum distance that the segments can be moved apart, because the motor is placed at the top of the support body.

In practice there is a need for an improved supporting body. There is also a need for a support body that provides a stable support body in any position of the segments. There is also a need for a support body from which an adjustment of the extension of the segments can be obtained quickly.

The object of the invention is to provide an improved supporting body of the type mentioned in the opening paragraph.

In particular, the object of the invention is to provide a support body of the type mentioned in the preamble which is very stable in any positioning of the segments.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved support body that can be quickly changed in position.

In order to obtain at least one of the aforementioned advantages, the invention according to a first embodiment provides a support body comprising the features of claim 1. This support body has the advantage that a very stable mutual positioning of the segments is obtained, regardless of the position where the seg-

e located with respect to each other.

It has also been found that the support body according to the present invention is simple to manufacture. This support body according to the invention also has the advantage that a very small overlap between the segments is required. An optically attractive support body is hereby obtained, wherein the outer segment, visi-ble to the user, connects almost seamlessly to the ground or a bottom element of the support body. Such a synergistic effect is completely unexpected.

The invention thus relates to a segmented support body, in particular a table leg, comprising an outer segment, an intermediate segment positioned within the outer segment and an inner segment positioned within the intermediate segment, which segments are slidable relative to each other, characterized in that the supporting body comprises within the inner segment an actuator and a gear rack cooperatively connected with the actuator and cooperatively coupled to the intermediate segment, which actuator is adapted for displacement relative to the displacement member, and wherein the actuator is at least operatively coupled to the outer segment, such that when the actuator is displaced relative to the displacement member, the outer segment is displaced relative to the intermediate segment. This provides at least the advantage of an increased stability of the support body. Other advantages are clear from the description and drawing.

Advantageously, the displacement member is operatively coupled to one end of the intermediate segment, so that a maximum displacement of the displacement member relative to the intermediate segment is obtained in a simple manner.

Preferably, the invention relates to a segmented supporting body, wherein the displacement member is designed as a gear rack and the actuator is arranged on the one hand for operative engage-ment with the gear rack, and wherein the actuator is furthermore at least operatively coupled to the outer segment, such that when the actuator is moved relative to the gear rack, the outer segment is displaced relative to the gear rack.

Preferably, the actuator includes a gear wheel that is rotatable for displacement of the actuator along the gear rack. Because

ator is operatively coupled to the outer segment, the outer segment will be displaced relative to the intermediate segment when the actuator is moved relative to the gear rack. This therefore provides an adequate possibility for displacing the outer segment.

It is especially preferred that the gear rack coupled to one end of the intermediate segment is coupled to a bottom element provided on the intermediate segment. As a result, both an extending displacement and a nesting displacement of the outer segment relative to the gear rack will cause the outer segment to move in a stable manner relative to the intermediate segment.

In this embodiment, in a nested position of the segments the actuator can be near a first end of the intermediate segment and in a maximally extended position the actuator can be near the opposite second end of the intermediate segment. In this case, the gear rack will have to contain teeth over the entire range along which the actuator moves. However, the extreme ends of the rack do not need to include teeth, which automatically provides an maximum range for actuator displacement. This prevents the actuator from moving too far along the rack, causing the segments to separate. It is thus preferred in the support body according to the present invention that the gear rack comprises teeth over part of its length.

According to an alternative embodiment, the invention relates to a segmented supporting body, wherein the displacement member comprises a chain with a rod or bar connected on the one hand to a link of the chain and on the other hand with one end of a rod or bar co-acting with the intermediate segment, which actuator is adapted for displacement relative to the chain and the bar associated therewith, and wherein the actuator is at least operatively coupled to the outer segment such that upon displacement of the actuator relative to the chain and the bar associated therewith, the outer segment is moved relative to the intermediate segment. This support body provides the advantageous effect that a chain is easy to apply and can be used cost-effectively. Also, the use of the rod is cheaper and simpler.

Advantageously, the actuator is connected to a frame and ar-

rotate a drive wheel attached to the frame for driving the chain provided in operative relationship with the drive wheel, which chain is also in operative relationship with a guide wheel for moving the rod a distance between the drive wheel and the guide wheel, and wherein the frame is connected to the inner segment. The frame can be easily assembled outside the inner segment and then placed and fixed in the inner segment, enabling fast and low-cost production.

In accordance with the above, each segment will have two ends. Within the invention it is assumed that the segments each comprise a first end and a second end.

In accordance with this description, the first ends are located at a position near or directed towards a bottom on which the segmented support element is placed, it being understood that when the segmented support element comprises an element to be placed on the bottom, that element is referred to as bottom surface or bottom element. The second ends are located at a position remote from the bottom surface. In practice, for example as a desk leg, this means that the first end is at an underside or at the bottom and that the second end is at an upper side or at the top. In this description it is assumed that the outer segment can move up or down, while the intermediate segment will remain in a fixed position with respect to the floor during the mutual sliding of the segments. The inner segment will also move with the outer segment, but with a maximum displacement of the outer segment, it will travel about half the displacement distance of the outer segment.

A particularly preferred variant of the invention concerns a support body wherein the actuator is rigidly connected to the inner segment and operatively connected to two gear racks, wherein a first gear rack is coupled to a first end of the intermediate segment and a second gear rack is coupled to the outer segment, preferably at the second end of the outer segment. This ensures identical displacement of the outer segment with respect to the inner segment and of the intermediate segment with respect to the inner segment.

According to a first description, it is preferred here that in an extended position of the segments of the support body

first end of the first gear rack is coupled to a first end of the intermediate segment and a second end of the first gear rack is located adjacent and in operative connection with the actuator, and

-   -   a first end of the second gear rack is positioned near a first         end of the outer segment and a second end of the second gear         rack is located near and in operative connection with the         actuator.

According to a second description, it is preferred that in a retracted or nested position of the segments of the support body

-   -   a first end of the first gear rack is coupled to a first end of         the intermediate segment and the actuator is at a position         substantially in the middle of both ends of and in operative         connection with the first gar rack, and     -   a first end of the second gear rack is positioned near a first         end of the outer segment and the actuator is at a position         substantially in the middle of the both ends of and in operative         connection with the second gear rack.

Both descriptions show a respective end position of the segments and a mutual positioning of the actuators and the gear racks.

An optimal use of the available space, also providing a maximum displacement of the segments, is obtained within a minimum use of space of the segments when the actuator is fixedly connected to the inner segment in the middle of the first end and the second end.

In particular, it is preferred that the actuator is an electric motor, whereby simple operation is obtained with optimum con-venience for a user. Furthermore, this provides a smooth drive, which minimizes wear.

In order to prevent the segments from being separated from each other when the actuator causes the segments to shift relative to each other, according to a first variant it may be provided that the outer segment comprises at the first end a cam on the inside for abutting in an extended position against a stop cam provided on the outside at the second end of the intermediate segment. The abutting cams prevent further displacement of the outer

with respect to the intermediate segment.

Preferably, the cam provided on the outer segment serves as a guiding element for the intermediate segment, making the stability of the support element very high. A tilting movement of the segments relative to each other is thus completely prevented.

Also, preferably the cam provided on the intermediate segment serves as a guiding element for the outer segment.

Similarly, the intermediate segment and the outer segment have guide cams on their inside for guiding the inner segment, whereby the stability is very high both when moving the segments in a sliding manner and when using the support element in static condition as a desk leg or the like.

In order to obtain a certain and similar displacement of the segments of a plurality of support bodies so that an exact identical positioning of the segments is obtained when several segmented support elements together have to move a top, such as a desktop or the like, between two positions, and whereby it can also be en-sured in a simple manner that the segments do not separate from each other due to an operation of the actuator performed too long, the actuator in the support body according to the invention is a stepper motor. This especially is of importance when applying gear racks. This enables a certain mutual positioning of the segments. It is also easily possible to operate multiple stepper motors by a single control, so that all actuators provide an identical displacement. When a desk, a table or the like contains several support elements according to the invention, all support elements will undergo the same displacement.

Therefore, according to a further aspect, the invention also relates to a set of at least two support bodies according to this invention, wherein the actuators are stepper motors and the set being provided with a control for synchronizing the actuators in each support body.

In the case of the use of a chain with a connected rod or bar, the upper guide wheel for the chain in a first segmented support element may be connected to a shaft which drives a guide wheel of a chain in a second support element. This also results in an identical displacement of the two bars in the two segmented

elements.

The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to a drawing. The drawing shows in:

FIG. 1 a schematic cross-section of a first alternative embodiment of a support leg according to the invention in a first position,

FIG. 2 a schematic cross-section of the first alternative embodiment of a support leg according to the invention in a second position,

FIG. 3 a schematic cross-section of a second alternative embodiment of a support leg according to the invention in a first position,

FIG. 4 a schematic cross-section of the second alternative embodiment of a support leg according to the invention in a second position,

FIG. 5 shows a schematic cross-section of a third embodiment of a support leg according to the invention in a first position,

FIG. 6 shows a schematic cross-section of the third embodiment of a support leg according to the invention in a second position.

In the figures, the same parts are indicated by the same reference numerals. However, not all parts necessary for a practical embodiment of the invention are shown, for simplicity of illustration.

FIG. 1 shows a first variant of a support leg 1 according to the invention. The support leg 1 comprises an outer segment 2, an intermediate segment 3 and an inner segment 4.

The three segments 2, 3, 4 are slidable relative to each other in the direction of the arrow 5. The direction of displacement is in the longitudinal direction of the segments and goes in two opposite directions.

The support element 1 is designed to be placed on a support or ground surface 6. Here, an upper end will be understood to mean the end of the segments 2, 3, 4 or the support element 1 that is directed away from the support surface 6. Here, a lower end will

stood to mean the end of the segments 2, 3, 4 or the support element 1 that is directed towards the ground surface 6.

The outer segment 2 has a lower end 7 and an upper end 8.

The intermediate segment 3 has a lower end 9 and an upper end 10.

The inner segment 4 has a lower end 11 and an upper end 12.

The intermediate segment 3 is optionally provided at the lower end 9 with a bottom element 13, such as a bottom plate 13, so that the end of the intermediate segment 3 facing the ground 6 is at least partially closed. The intermediate segment 3 can also be placed directly on the ground surface 6. The outer segment 2 can be open at both ends but can optionally be closed at the top end 8. The inner segment can be open or closed at both ends 11, 12.

The outer segment 2 has at the lower end 7 on the inside a guide cam 14 which abuts against the intermediate segment 3 to provide a stable construction.

The intermediate segment 3 has a cam 15 on the outside at the second end 9, which also serves as a guide cam 15 for guiding the outer segment 2, but which also serves as a stop cam 15 for the guide cam 14 so that the outer segment 2 can not be moved beyond the intermediate segment 3.

Likewise, the inner segment 4, which is slidably located within the intermediate segment 3, is provided on the outside with guide cams 16, 17. Cam 16 is provided on the outside at the lower end 12 of the inner segment 4. places. This cam 16 serves as a guide against the intermediate segment 3.

Cam 17 is placed on the outside at the top end 12 of the inner segment 4 and serves as a guide cam 17 against the outer segment 2.

The cam 16 also serves to limit the freedom of movement of the inner segment 4 relative to the intermediate segment 3 in the direction of the arrow 5, i.e. directed away from the ground surface 6, in order to prevent the inner segment 4 from sliding out of the intermediate segment 3.

Within the inner segment 4 an actuator 18 is placed, which in the embodiment shown is designed as an electric motor. A gear rack

teeth 24 is placed within the inner segment 4 and connected to the intermediate segment 3 near the first end 9 thereof. The actuator 18 includes a rotatably driven gear 25 which is operatively coupled to the gear rack 19 so that the actuator 18 can be moved relative to the gear rack 19 in the direction of the arrow 5. In the position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 the actuator 18 is coupled to the outer segment 2 at a position near the second end 8 by means of a rod 20. By moving the actuator 18 along the gear rack 19, the outer segment 2 will be displaced with respect to the intermediate segment 3.

In order to obtain a proportional displacement of the inner segment 4 with respect to the outer segment 2 with this up and down displacement of the outer segment 2 with respect to the intermediate segment 3, the inner segment 4 may be rigidly coupled to the outer segment 2. For example, in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 the cam 17 may clamp so tightly against the inside of the outer segment that it is carried along by the outer segment until the inner segment is stopped by means of cams 16 by means of a cam 26 that is provided on the inside of intermediate segment 3, whereby a temporary coupling between these segments is provided. Then the outer segment 2 will move further upwards while the inner segment 4 remains fixed against the intermediate segment 3.

FIG. 1 shows the support element according to the invention in an extended position. FIG. 2 shows the embodiment of the support element of FIG. 1 in a nested position.

In FIG. 3 , an alternative embodiment is shown, wherein the segments 2, 3, 4 all have the same embodiment as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 and wherein they are in the extended position. However, the actuator 18 in this embodiment is coupled to the inner segment 4. The coupling is provided substantially in the center of the inner segment 4, between the lower end 11 and the upper end 12.

Instead of a single gear rack 19, there is also a second gear rack 21. The second gear rack 21 is operatively coupled to the actuator 18 by means of toothing 22 and is fixedly connected with the second end 8 of the outer segment 2 at its end 23. Thereby, when controlling the actuator 18, a fixed displacement of the inner segment 4 with respect to the outer segment 2 and the

Bate segment 3 is obtained. Since the inner segment 4 will always be in a symmetrical position with respect to the outer segment 2 and the intermediate segment 3, regardless of the degree of displacement of the segments 2, 3, 4 with respect to each other, a very stable support element 1 is obtained.

FIG. 4 finally shows the support element of FIG. 3 in a nested position.

FIG. 5 shows an alternative embodiment, in which segments 2, 3, 4 all have the same embodiment as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 3 and they are in the extended position. The actuator is mounted on a frame 29 and drives a first gear 30, also referred to as drive gear 30. A chain 28 is positioned in operative contact with the gear 30 and also runs over a spaced second gear 31, also referred to as guide wheel 31. The chain is generally sufficiently taut to allow suitable and secure transmission from drive wheel 30 to chain 28. A rod or bar 27 is connected to a link of the chain 28. As the drive wheel 30 rotates, the chain 28 will move and the rod 27 will move up or down relative to the actuator 18 which is rigidly connected to the frame 29. Because the bar 27 is supported on the bottom element 13 or possibly on the substrate 6, the frame 29 will move upwards when the link of the chain moves from the second end 32 of the frame to the first end 33 of the frame. Because the frame 29 is coupled to the outer segment 2, the outer segment 2 will also move upwards. The activity is identical in that respect to the variants shown in FIGS. 1 , FIG. 2 , FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 .

The guide wheel 31 is connected to a drive shaft 34 which is also operatively coupled to a guide wheel of another support element (not shown in the figures). Rotating the guide wheel 31 simultaneously and identically rotates the guide wheel of the other segmented support element, thereby displacing the bars in both support elements in an identical manner. The application of the variant according to FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 is thus significantly cheaper than a variant in which control electronics and stepper motors are used.

FIG. 6 shows the variant according to FIG. 5 in a nested, retracted state. Here too, a very compact embodiment is obtained.

invention also extends to any combination of features described above independently of each other.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and shown in the figures. The invention is limited only by the appended claims. 

1-21. (canceled)
 22. A segmented support body, in particular a table leg, comprising an outer segment, an intermediate segment positioned within the outer segment and an inner segment positioned within the intermediate segment, which segments are slidable relative to each other, wherein the supporting body comprises in the inner segment an actuator and a gear rack cooperatively connected with the actuator and coupled to an end of the intermediate segment, which actuator is adapted for displacement relative to the gear rack, and wherein the actuator is at least operatively coupled to the outer segment, such that when the actuator is displaced relative to the rack, the outer segment is displaced relative to the intermediate segment.
 23. A segmented support body, in particular a table leg, comprising an outer segment, an intermediate segment positioned within the outer segment and an inner segment positioned within the intermediate segment, which segments are slidable relative to each other, wherein the support body has an actuator and a displacement member connected thereto within the inner segment wherein the displacement member is operatively coupled to the actuator and the intermediate segment, which actuator is adapted for displacement relative to the displacement member, and wherein the actuator is at least operatively coupled to the outer segment, such that upon displacement of the actuator relative to the displacement member the outer segment is displaced relative to the intermediate segment.
 24. The segmented support body according to claim 23, wherein the displacement member is operatively coupled to an end of the intermediate segment.
 25. The segmented support body according to claim 23, wherein the actuator includes a gear wheel that is rotatable for displacement of the actuator along the gear rack.
 26. The segmented support body as claimed in claim 23, wherein the gear rack coupled to one end of the intermediate segment is coupled to a bottom element provided on the intermediate segment.
 27. The segmented support body according to claim 23, wherein the gear rack comprises teeth over part of its length.
 28. The segmented support body according to claim 23, wherein the displacement member comprises a chain having a rod connected on the one hand to a link of the chain and on the other hand to an end of the intermediate segment, which actuator is adapted for displacement relative to the chain and the bar attached thereto, and wherein the actuator is at least operatively coupled to the outer segment such that when the actuator is displaced relative to the chain and the rod connected thereto, the outer segment is displaced relative to the intermediate segment.
 29. The segmented support body according to claim 28, wherein the actuator is connected to a frame and is arranged to rotate a drive wheel attached to the frame for driving the chain provided in operative relationship with the drive wheel, which chain is also in operative relationship with a guide wheel for moving the rod a distance between the drive wheel and the guide wheel, the frame being connected to the inner segment.
 30. The segmented support body according to claim 23, wherein the segments each comprise a first end and a second end.
 31. The segmented support body according to claim 30, wherein the first ends are located at a position near the bottom element and the second ends are located at a position remote from the bottom element.
 32. The segmented support body according to claim 23, wherein the actuator is rigidly connected to the inner segment and operatively connected to two gear racks, wherein a first gear rack is coupled to a first end of the intermediate segment and a second gear rack is coupled to the outer segment.
 33. The segmented support body according to claim 32, wherein in an extended position of the segments of the support body a first end of the first gear rack is coupled to a first end of the intermediate segment and a second end of the first gear rack is located adjacent and in operative connection with the actuator, and a first end of the second gear rack is positioned near a first end of the outer segment and a second end of the second gear rack is located near and in operative connection with the actuator.
 34. The segmented support body according to claim 32, wherein in a retracted or nested position of the segments of the support body a first end of the first gear rack is coupled to a first end of the intermediate segment and the actuator is at a position substantially in the middle of both ends of and in operative connection with the first gar rack, and a first end of the second gear rack is positioned near a first end of the outer segment and the actuator is at a position substantially in the middle of the both ends of and in operative connection with the second gear rack.
 35. The segmented support body according to claim 32, wherein the actuator is fixedly connected to the inner segment in the middle of the first end and the second end.
 36. The segmented support body according to claim 23, wherein the actuator is an electric motor.
 37. The segmented support body according to claim 23, wherein the outer segment comprises at a first end a cam on the inside for abutting in an extended position against a stop cam provided on the outside at a second end of the intermediate segment.
 38. The segmented support body as claimed in claim 37, wherein the cam provided on the outer segment serves as a guiding element for the intermediate segment.
 39. The segmented support body according to claim 37, wherein the cam provided on the intermediate segment serves as a guiding element for the outer segment.
 40. The segmented support body according to claim 23, wherein the intermediate segment and the outer segment have guide cams on their insides for guiding the inner segment.
 41. The segmented support body according to claim 1, wherein the actuator is a stepper motor.
 42. A set of at least two segmented support bodies according to claim 23, wherein the actuators are stepper motors and are provided with a control for synchronizing the actuators in each segmented support body. 